Bovine serum used to fight SARS-related disease
bovine immunoglobulin could be an effective way of broadening
immunity in humans, and helping to fight the SARS virus.
Proliant sister company American Protein Corporation (APC) says that a study has shown its bovine serum proteins to protect against coronavirus in an animal model. Bovine coronavirus is similar to the virus found to be the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to the company.
Initially published in the Journal of Dairy Science in May 2002, the study has new significance in the light of the current SARS outbreak, which has killed more than 140 people around the world.
"Bovine serum supplementation was shown to decrease the severity of disease in young calves exposed to coronavirus. The study supports the concept that immunoglobulin (Ig) and/or other serum proteins can promote recovery by modulating the production of inflammatory cytokines often generated in this type of challenge," said John Arthington, an immunologist with the University of Florida who conducted the study.
Proliant markets a purified Ig fraction from bovine serum for use in dietary supplements called ImmunoLin.
"Whether the naturally occurring antibodies to bovine coronavirus or other anti-viral peptides in bovine serum will cross-react with the virus or provide some protection against the new strain is not yet known. But, this is the only in vivo study we are aware of that demonstrates a positive effect of a dietary supplement ingredient on recovery from a coronavirus infection," added Dr Eric Weaver, vice president of Proliant's health division.
"Humans now live in such a clean existence that our immune systems are becoming increasingly 'naïve' which makes us more susceptible to these types of challenges. A number of organisms take advantage of naïve immune systems in both animals and humans including E. coli, cryptosporidia, rotavirus, and Salmonella sp. Since the production of antibodies is a major part of building immunity against these organisms, it makes sense that these same antibodies can be used to supplement the immunity of another," said Dr Weaver.
He added that addition of immunoglobulin is a 'proven concept' in raising animals, with 60 published studies supporting the in vivo efficacy of Ig supplementation. Eighty per cent of the young pigs raised in the US are currently fed supplements containing Ig, according to the company, which claims that bovine Ig could be veryuseful in broadening immunity in humans.
